If you or your clients are heading out of YYZ today, you might want to pack a sandwich.
Protesting low wages, more than 800 workers responsible for making and delivery of meals, snacks and beverages for in-flight service on Air Canada, WestJet and other airlines went on strike just after midnight on 16APR.
The strike took effect after Gate Gourmet workers at YYZ, who don't work for Toronto Pearson but are contracted by various airlines, voted overwhelmingly (96%) to reject a final offer from the company.
The strike means chaos for airlines and customers, who likely will have to fend for themselves in terms of in-flight food on shorter flights.
“The labour dispute will prove highly disruptive,” the Gate Gourmet workers’ union said in a statement. It noted that disruptions could hit 230-250 flights a day.
Air Canada has a contingency plan in place, the airline’s VP of Communications, Christophe Hennebelle, told the Toronto Star. "International fights will not be affected," Hennebelle added. "The strike will impact some North American flights leaving Toronto and flights returning to Toronto, but it will most heavily impact short-haul flights," he said.
WestJet said some routes to and from Pearson, specifically flights on Boeing 737 planes, may have “inconsistent food or beverage.” But it said it has provisional plans in place to make the trip more enjoyable for customers.
“To limit potential disruption, WestJet has proactively prepared contingency plans to ensure critical supplies are available onboard. Guests who are eligible to receive an inflight meal including those in the Premium cabin or Extended Comfort seating, and all guests travelling on transatlantic flights will receive either an alternative option or a food and beverage voucher for use in the terminal, pre-departure. In addition, WestJet is advising guests travelling to or from Toronto to plan ahead and bring an extra snack and/or beverage for their journey.”
“Our members accepted a wage freeze during the pandemic to help this company survive,” the union said. “Now their managers brag about how profitable their operations have become at Pearson, while proposing wage increases as low as 89 cents an hour,” said Martin Cerqua, lead union negotiator and president of Local Union 647.
“Workers at the company are paid on average between CAD$17.69 and $20/hour. These rates fall between $2 and $6/hour behind other airline catering companies in Toronto and Gate Gourmet workers in Vancouver.”
